What size should your patio be? The primary design guideline is to make your patio large enough to accommodate the activities on your final planning list. If you desire a large, second dining room table, for example, you'll need more space than you would for a simple bistro set.
Our planning tips are here to guide you through the patio sizing process. We have ideas for planning, testing the site, utilizing space, and more.
Get started with a sketch. Assign each activity to a different part of the patio. Allow ample space for the activity itself, traffic flow through and around the area, and outdoor furniture, which tends to be larger than indoor furniture.
If the patio you've planned isn't large enough, expand it or look for ways its spaces can serve double duty. Perhaps one corner of the family dining space could serve as a secluded retreat. Often just moving a chair can make a small part of a larger area feel more secluded.
Then give each area its own identity. Separate areas visually and physically with planters, trellises, benches, or a change in decking pattern. Structural changes make even stronger distinctions. A T-shape patio or different levels with connecting steps naturally divides spaces you can identify for various activities.
To see if your proposed patio is large enough, rope off the area or mark it on the ground with chalk or upside-down spray paint. Then move in the furniture and equipment you'll have on the patio.
If you haven't purchased the furniture yet, use interior furnishings and add about a foot more space for each item. Figure about 2 feet square for each outdoor chair, plus about 1 or 2 feet to push back from a table.
If the patio is large enough, step back and consider its scale. It should look proportional to the house and grounds. Small patios usually do not pose a problem—they're less likely to be built next to a big house. More common is a large patio that overpowers a modest home. Start with a design that fits the uses you envision, then fit it to your budget and terrain. When you finalize the size of the patio, draw the plan on paper.
Many patios have plenty of square footage but end up feeling cramped because they weren't planned with traffic and activity in mind. These general guidelines will help you avoid this problem.
For a dining area for four people, you'll need about 10x10 feet. For six to eight, make it 12x12 feet. To accommodate a typical round table with six chairs, provide a circular area with a diameter of at least 9 feet. A rectangular table requires an area 5 to 6 feet wider and longer than the table. A simple cooking area with a grill and a small table usually needs an area about 6 feet square. Provide more room if there will be a counter, island, or large table.
For a single reclining chair, allow an area 4x7 feet. For two reclining chairs, allow 7x7 feet. A conversation area for three to six people requires a 10x10-foot space. Pathways from the door to the stairs and between activity areas should be 3 to 4 feet wide at all points.
We recommend a minimum of 25 square feet per person. So, if you plan to host 15 people- plan for a space around 375 sq. ft. We recommend a patio around 550 square feet for comfortable entertaining.
Figure about 2 feet square for each outdoor chair, plus about 1 or 2 feet to push back from a table. If the patio is large enough, step back and consider its scale. It should look proportional to the house and grounds. Small patios usually do not pose a problem—they're less likely to be built next to a big house.
Is a 12x12 patio big enough? For many people, a 12-by-12-foot patio is plenty big. This size still allows for a dining table to sit four to eight people, with a bit of room to spare. You could always use more room, of course, but it depends on if you have it.
"As a rule of thumb, 3m x 3m is a sensible size for a typical patio with a table big enough for four or maybe even six people," say their experts. "You can get away with smaller if there are less people, or if the furniture is dainty."
Okay, you'll need a lot of space: I normally go with around 400 square feet- that's a 20 foot by 20 foot square, or a wide rectangle that gets you the square footage you need.
Begin by measuring the length and the width and multiplying those two numbers together. (For example: A 10' x 10' patio would be 10x10 and would equal 100 square feet.
A 20'x20' concrete patio costs $2,000 to $6,000 on average or $5 to $15 per square foot installed. The cost for a 10'x20' concrete patio is $1,000 to $3,000. The cost to pour a concrete patio is $15 to $28 per square foot for high-end custom designs.
Patios are considered small when they measure at or below 100 square feet, while medium-sized patios have larger areas ranging between 121 and 256 square feet. Taking up the most space are large patios, with sizes starting at roughly 324 square feet and increasing from there.
On average, the cost of building a patio can be as high as $5,300, depending on size and materials used. That said, it's estimated that well-designed patios not only add 8-10% home value, but also earn an ROI of over 80%.
To make sure safety is maintained, a minimum thickness of any concrete patio is at least 4 inches. However, if it will bear heavy furniture or features, 6- to 8-inch thickness may be required. This is in addition to a 2- to 3-inch base of something like gravel, sand, or limestone.
Typically, however, a patio is about one third the size of the house – larger perhaps than any room in the home. A 1,500 square foot house, for example might sport a 500 square foot patio, one perhaps measuring 20 by 25 feet.
A patio should slope away from the house at the rate of 1/8" (3mm) per running foot. Generally, a 4" (100mm) thick slab set 2" (50mm) above ground level is suitable. To ensure that the height and slope are correct, begin the excavation, layout and form construction where the patio meets the house.
In most cases, it makes sense for a patio to go right up to a house. Whether you have a large or small patio, they are usually designed as an extension of the home and expansion of the available living area. For this reason, it's better for your outdoor living space to flow directly from your indoor living space.
Standard patio sets may range from three- to nine-piece sets, including a table and two to eight patio chairs. A three-piece bistro set is perfect for two people to drink and dine in a small space.
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